Radius-plate assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly for reducing a fracture between an epiphysis and a diaphysis of a bone has a bone plate having a fan-shaped outer end formed with a plurality of outer holes and a bar-shaped inner end extending along a longitudinal axis from the outer end and formed with a plurality of inner holes. The plate further is formed on the bar-shaped inner end with a longitudinally extending throughgoing guide slot and between the guide slot and the outer holes with an aperture. A slide has a longitudinally extending leg with an inner end formed with a guide formation engaged into and longitudinally slidable along the guide slot and a crosspiece overlying the aperture and engaging the bone plate to both transverse sides of the aperture. The crosspiece is formed with a transversely elongated slide slot, and a slide screw engaged through the slide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bone plate. More particularly this invention concerns a bone-plate assembly used to secure the epiphysis or outer end of a long bone such as the radius to the bone's diaphysis or shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical bone plate such as described in WO 2004/089233 of Thielke, US 2006/0229619 of Orbay, US 2006/0235404, or US 2007/0055253 all of Orbay, extends along an axis and has an outer end that is fan-shaped and formed with an array of holes so that it can be solidly screwed to the epiphysis to one side of the fracture or other injury that is to be reduced so the bone can grow back together. Extending from this fan-shaped outer end is a flat narrow bar formed with another array of holes allowing it to be screwed to the bone's diaphysis. The most common use of such a bone plate is in setting or reducing a distal fracture of the radius, but it can of course also be used for any type of fracture on a distal portion of a long bone.

Because of the presence of tendons and ligaments, reducing such a break is difficult, especially considering that the more tightly the two bone parts can be engaged together the more quickly arthrodesis will mend the fracture.

The problem with such a plate is that it allows little or no adjustment once secured in place. The system of US 2007/0233114 of Bouman has transverse and longitudinal slots allowing some longitudinal and transverse shifting of parts, but in a structure intended for use on a bone shaft. It is known to form the inner bar-shaped part of the plate with an axially extending slot to allow the epiphysis and the bone plate to be shifted limitedly longitudinally of the bone to close up a fracture. Thus the orthopedic surgeon fixes the plate on the distal fragment, installs a screw loosely in the slot and pushes the distal fragment back into contact with the proximal portion of the bone, thereby making the screw slide in the hole up to the point where the two bone parts come in direct abutment with one another. In this position of the plate, the screw extending loosely through the longitudinal slot is tightened to lock in the set position.

The surgeon therefore cannot correct a transverse positioning defect, except if he redrills the proximal fragment near the first hole at an offset. In practice, this is often impossible since the two holes would be too close to one another. Therefore the transverse defect is normally left uncorrected so that the outer end of the plate overextends on the side, which can be unattractive and can cause patient discomfort.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved bone-plate assembly usable to reduce a fractured radius.

Another object is the provision of such an improved radius plate that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that allows transverse adjustment of the epiphysis relative to the diaphysis.

A further object is to provide a surgical method of using such an assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An assembly for reduction of a fracture between an epiphysis and a diaphysis of a bone has according to the invention a bone plate having a fan-shaped outer end formed with a plurality of outer holes and a bar-shaped inner end extending along a longitudinal axis from the outer end and formed with a plurality of inner holes. The plate is adapted to be screwed through the outer holes to the epiphysis and through the inner holes to the diaphysis. The plate further is formed on the bar-shaped inner end with a longitudinally extending throughgoing guide slot and between the guide slot and the outer holes with an aperture of a predetermined transverse width and of a longitudinal length generally equal to a length of the guide slot. A slide has a longitudinally extending leg with an inner end formed with a guide formation engaged into and longitudinally slidable along the guide slot and a crosspiece overlying the aperture and of a transverse width at least equal to the transverse width of the aperture such that crosspiece engages the bone plate to both transverse sides of the aperture. The crosspiece is formed with a transversely elongated slide slot, and a slide screw engaged through the slide.

Once the plate is in the correct position, the surgeon can then set the anchor screws in place in the inner and outer holes, for example with the aid of a screw/drill guide, with no risk of moving, then remove the detachable adjuster.

Therefore, although the system is complicated by the addition of a detachable element, perfect positioning is is achieved.

In particular embodiments of the invention, one and/or the other following features are relevant:

-   -   the inner part is extends in a first plane and the outer part in         a second plane inclined with respect to the plane of said inner         part, for example by a few degrees, for example 5° to 15°,         advantageously between 8° and 10°. This way, the T-slide also is         form with a slight elbow and the guide pin a sufficient height         to ensure guiding during the longitudinal adjustment;     -   the length of the guide slot is between 6 mm and 12 mm,         advantageously on the order of 10 mm;     -   the length of the slide slot is between 12 mm and 14 mm.     -   the width of the aperture is about 5 mm at its inner end and the         order of 12 mm or more at its outer end;     -   the substantially triangular aperture has a surface area         comprised between half and ⅘th of the enlarged base of the outer         part.

The system further comprises a guide for the epiphysial screws having guide holes alignable with the outer holes for the anchor screws of the outer part.

The method according to the invention has the steps of first screwing the outer part to the epiphysis through the outer holes to anchor the bone plate to the epiphysis and then screwing the slide screw through the slide slot and aperture into the diaphysis to press the adjuster against the bone plate and press the bone plate against the bone. Then the bone plate and the epiphysis it is anchored to are shifted longitudinally relative to the diaphysis with sliding of the pivot formation in the guide slot to reduce the fracture and transversely relative to the diaphysis with to correct transverse offset of the diaphysis and epiphysis at the fracture. The result can be perfect alignment without having to reset any screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a plate according to the invention on an end of a fractured radius;

FIG. 2 shows the same plate and the detachable adjuster of the system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the system with a further guide for epiphysial screwing;

FIGS. 4A to 4C show the system of FIG. 2 in three different positions, showing the longitudinal adjustability according to the invention; and

FIGS. 5A to 5C show the system of FIG. 2 in three different positions, showing the transverse adjustability according to the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1 a system S comprises a metal plate 1 having a fan-shaped outer part 2 for reducing a fracture F between a fractured distal end portion A of a radius and the shaft B of this bone. The plate 1 is formed with outer holes 3 for anchoring it by means of screws 22 (FIGS. 4A-5C), for example eight holes 3 in two rows of predetermined dimensions and at specific places on the end of the fan-shaped outer part 2 as is known per se. The plate 1 also is unitarily formed of an elongated bar-shaped inner part 4 extending along a longitudinal axis 14 and provided with second holes 5, for example two holes for respective unillustrated anchor screws also known per se. The inner part 4 is further formed with an elongated, throughgoing, and longitudinally extending slot 6, for adjusting position of the plate 1 on the radius A, B parallel to the axis 14.

Here as visible in FIG. 3 the outer paddle- or fan-shaped end 2 lies generally in a plane forming an obtuse angle of between 165° and 5° to a plane of the narrow stem or inner part 4 of the plate 1.

According to the invention, the outer part 2 further has an inner portion 7 of generally trapezoidal shape and fixed to the outer end 4′ of the inner part 4. It is formed with a substantially triangular or trapezoidal aperture 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system S further comprises a movable T-shaped adjuster slide 9 having a longitudinally extending leg 10 of a width 1′ in an outer region 12 greater by about 2 mm than a width 1 of the parallel-sided slot 8. The leg 10 also has an inner end 11 of a width narrower than the region 12. The inner end 11 of the leg 10 is provided with a guide pin 28 (FIG. 4B) slidable along the slot 6. This guide pin 28 is basically cylindrical and stepped with an inner end fitting slidably in the slot 6 to allow easy longitudinal sliding of the adjuster 9 on the plate 1 while still allowing as described below the adjuster 9 to pivot about an axis of the pin 28.

The T-shaped adjuster 9 further has a crosspiece 13 having a transverse width L′ measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction or axis 14 of the slot 6 or of the leg 10. This dimension L′ is greater than a maximum transverse width L of the aperture 8. The crosspiece 13 has ends 15 that are thus in contact over a sufficient distance, for example a few millimeters, with outer edges 16 of the aperture 8 of the enlarged outer part 2.

Furthermore, the crosspiece 13 is formed with a transversely elongated slot 17 with parallel, stepped, and straight inner and outer edges and circularly rounded ends. The transverse length of this slot 17 is substantially equal to the transverse width L of the aperture 8. This slot 17 is traversed generally centrally by a positioning screw 18 that is set in the diaphysial bone part B in a region much wider than the diameter of the screw 18. The head of this screw 18 bears downward, that is toward the bone on shoulders of the side of the slot 17 so this screw 18 secures the adjuster 9 in place against the bone plate 1 and also holds the inner part 4 of the plate 1 flatly against the diaphysis B. Thus the plate 1 can move transversely of the screw 18 set in the diaphysis B, just as longitudinal displacement of the pin 28 along the slot 6 allows for longitudinal displacement of the plate 1 as described more precisely hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C and 5A-5C.

FIG. 3 further shows a guide 19 for setting the epiphysial screws 22 and having cylindrical guide holes 20 aligned with the holes 3. The guide 19 has a handle or rod 21 for positioning and maintaining the guide 19 in position during drilling of the pilot holes for the screws 22.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show how the longitudinal adjustment is done.

Here, the function of the T-shaped slide 9 is to adjust the longitudinal spacing between the portions A and B before or after the epiphysial screws 22 have been set to anchor the outer part 2 solidly on the outer bone part A. The degree of longitudinal adjustment is equal to the longitudinal length of the slot 6 minus the diameter of the part of the guide pin 28 engaged in the slot 6.

FIG. 4A shows a first position in which the guide pin 28 of the leg 10 of the T-shaped adjuster 9 abuts an outer end 23 of the slot 6. The fractured distal end or epiphysis A of the radius is meanwhile fixed by one or two of the screws 22 to the outer end 2 of the plate 1 to fix the plate 1 on the bone part A. In this end position, the fractured distal portion A of the radius is at a spacing x from the proximal portion B of the bone.

As the plate 1 is shifted inward relative to the adjuster 9 that is longitudinally fixed by the screw 18, this screw 18 shifts along the slot 6 (see FIG. 4B) outward in the direction of arrow 24 along with the slide 9 to bring the fractured portion A closer to the shaft part B until the spacing x as shown in FIG. 4C is completely eliminated and the fracture F is reduced, that is with the part A in direct contact at the fracture F with the proximal portion B of the bone.

If, however, it then appears that the transverse position is incorrect, that is the parts A and B are offset is transversely relative to at the fracture region F, this can be solved according to the invention as shown now in reference to FIGS. 5A and 5C that successively show a position 25 offset transversely to one side, a centered position 26, and an oppositely transversely offset position 27.

Because the plate 1 can shift transversely relative to the pin 28 engaged in the slot 27, the outer part 2 of the plate 1 secured by the screws 22 to the fractured portion A can move transversely relative to the elongated inner bone part B in such a way that it is in the desired centered position 26.

The overall procedure for setting in place an osteosynthesis system according to the invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3.

After two or three of the epiphysial screws 22 have been inserted in the holes 20, a first control of the assembly S on the end of the radius is carried out by x-ray.

According to the invention if, after the epiphysial screws 22 have been fixed, the epiphysis/diaphysis position is not right, the position can be corrected without disassembling the epiphysial zone.

To do so, with the screw 18 of the element 13 or slider loosened a bit, the plate 1 shifted transversely relative to the pin 18 for transverse correction and slid along this pin 18 for longitudinal (axis 14) correction to the right position of the portions A and B relative to each other. Then the screw 18 can be tightened to temporarily fix this position.

The other epiphysial screws are then inserted after the correct position of the plate 1 has been found and two proximal diaphysial screws are set in the holes 5.

Finally, the screw 18 is taken out, the slide 9 is removed, and another diaphysial screw is set in the slot 6 to solidly fix the plate 1 on both parts A and B.

The slide 9 serves to adjust the position of the plate 1 before or after the first epiphysial screws 22 are set.

The degree of adjustment is related to the longitudinal dimension of the slot 6 for longitudinal mobility, and to the transverse dimension of the slot 17 of the crosspiece 13 for transverse mobility.

The slide 9 is removed at the end of the surgery before the surgical field is closed.

It goes without saying and it also results from what precedes that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments particularly described. On the contrary, it encompasses all the alternatives and particularly those where the slide 9 is, for example, triangular. 

We claim:
 1. An assembly reducing a fracture between an epiphysis and a diaphysis of a bone, the assembly comprising: a bone plate having a fan-shaped outer end formed with a plurality of outer holes and a bar-shaped inner end extending along a longitudinal axis from the outer end and formed with a plurality of inner holes, the plate being adapted to be screwed through the outer holes to the epiphysis and through the inner holes to the diaphysis, the plate further being formed on the bar-shaped inner end with a longitudinally extending throughgoing guide slot and between the guide slot and the outer holes with an aperture of a predetermined transverse width and of a longitudinal length generally equal to a length of the guide slot; a slide having a longitudinally extending leg with an inner end formed with a guide formation engaged into and longitudinally slidable along the guide slot and a crosspiece overlying the aperture and of a transverse width at least equal to the transverse width of the aperture such that crosspiece engages the bone plate to both transverse sides of the aperture, the crosspiece being formed with a transversely elongated slide slot; and a slide screw engaged through the slide.
 2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the slide is T-shaped.
 3. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture is generally triangular or trapezoidal.
 4. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the outer part of the bone plate lies generally in a plane forming a small acute angle with a plane of the inner part of the bone plate.
 5. The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the angle is between 5° and 15°.
 6. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the guide slot has a length of between 6 mm and 12 mm.
 7. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse width of the slide slot is between 12 mm and 14 mm.
 8. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture has an open area equal to between one-half and four-fifths of the length of the diaphysis at the fracture.
 9. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein a head of the slide screw bears toward the bone on the slide and presses the slide against the bone plate.
 10. The assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising: a tool filtrable against the outer part of the bone plate and formed with holes alignable with the outer holes for drilling holes through same and fitting screws into the drilled holes.
 11. A method of reducing a fracture between an epiphysis and a diaphysis of a bone, using an assembly having: a bone plate having a fan-shaped outer end formed with a plurality of outer holes and a bar-shaped inner end extending along a longitudinal axis from the outer end and formed with a plurality of inner holes, the plate further being formed on the bar-shaped inner end with a longitudinally extending throughgoing guide slot and between the guide slot and the outer holes with an aperture of a predetermined transverse width and of a longitudinal length generally equal to a length of the guide slot; a slide having a longitudinally extending leg with an inner end formed with a guide formation engaged into and longitudinally slidable along the guide slot and a crosspiece overlying the aperture and of a transverse width at least equal to the transverse width of the aperture such that crosspiece engages the bone plate to both transverse sides of the aperture, the crosspiece being formed with a transversely elongated slide slot; and a slide screw engaged through the slide slot and through the aperture with the diaphysis, the transverse width of the aperture being substantially greater than the slide screw such that the bone plate can move transversely relative to the slide screw, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: screwing the outer part to the epiphysis through the outer holes to anchor the bone plate to the epiphysis; screwing the slide screw through the slide slot and aperture into the diaphysis; and shifting the bone plate and the epiphysis it is anchored to longitudinally relative to the diaphysis with sliding of the pivot formation in the guide slot to reduce the fracture and transversely relative to the diaphysis with to correct transverse offset of the diaphysis and epiphysis at the fracture. 